More about Diane Janknegt

Diane Janknegt, founder of Wizenoze, has been selected by Forbes for the ‘100 Women Founders In Europe To Follow in 2019’, got listed in Nov 2019 on the “WW Meaningful Business Leaders 100’, is mentioned as ‘The 20 Most Successful Businesswoman to Watch 2018’ by Insight Magazine, is a member of the Inspiring Fifty Group - a group of 50 Female leaders in the IT sector, won the title ‘Bad-Ass Female Entrepreneur 2018’ of Silicon Canals. 

Her company Wizenoze was featured as the only Dutch/British company in The Disrupt 100 list, is recently selected as “The top 10 Dutch companies to Watch in 2019” by Business Insider and was a finalist for ‘The Next Billion Edtech Prize’ at the Global Education Skills Forum in Dubai in 2019. Diane Janknegt is an ex-Microsoft executive who worked for Microsoft Netherlands between 1997 - 2012. In 2013 she founded the AI scale-up Wizenoze. 

Based on years of academic research, Wizenoze gives students across the world access to an ‘internet for education’. With their AI technology - called the Web for Classrooms or Web for Professionals - WizeNoze discloses relevant, reliable and readable content to students of all ages. Wizenoze has offices in Amsterdam and London, has a strong focus on India and aims to be the global market leader in this area. 

She loves working with young, passionate and inspiring people, has a proven track record in building strong and successful teams and with her positive attitude she knows how to motivate other people. She has an extensive network in the IT and Education industry and beyond. She is happily married and proud mother of 3 kids, aged 15-14-11.

Signing up on our website is completely free! If you encounter any issues with profile or notice something unusual, please don't hesitate to report it to us. We're here to help ensure a smooth and secure experience.
Featured speaker at previous eChai events:
Startup Growth Panel : EdTech
CoRise Summit
Founders and startup folks who joined past eChai startup events

The eChai Effect - In Their Words

“You don’t plan to build a company via eChai. You just keep showing up … and one day, you realize you did.” I’ve known Jatin since 2012, when I was still deciding what kind of second innings I wanted to play as an entrepreneur. Over the years, through events, chai breaks, intros, and seemingly small conversations, eChai helped shape not just Upsquare but also refined the lens through which we see collaboration. At Upsquare, we’ve hired talent, met partners, discovered co-investors, and built lifelong friendships. One of our joint ventures exists today only because a casual eChai memory sparked a deeper trust. Now, as we build House of Starts — our venture builder — eChai continues to fuel our mission: co-creating a shared future. eChai isn’t just a startup network. It’s a trust network. And for business builders like me, that makes all the difference."
Utpal Vaishnav - Founder @ Upsquare & House of Starts • Angel Investor + LP
Utpal Vaishnav
Founder @ Upsquare & House of Starts • Angel Investor + LP
"eChai isn’t just a startup community … it’s a mindset . eChai has been one of the most impactful communities in my entrepreneurial journey. It’s been a turning point . In a world where building something can often feel isolating, eChai gave me a sense of belonging. I’ve found mentors, collaborators, and friends here — people who genuinely want to see you succeed. It’s a space where ideas are challenged, actions are celebrated, and founders grow not just in scale, but in clarity and confidence. From late-night ideas to early-morning pitches, this community has quietly but powerfully shaped the way I build, think, and dream. I’ll always be grateful for the way eChai creates spaces where founders don’t just grow businesses — they grow together."
Koumal Kalantry - Founder, Bignano Ventures
Koumal Kalantry
Founder, Bignano Ventures
"From late-night brainstorming over chai to early morning founder calls, eChai has been more than just a network for me; it’s been home base for ideas, impact, and inspiration. What started as a simple meetup years ago turned into a powerful movement, connecting founders, creators, and dreamers. I’ve had the privilege of seeing startups find product-market fit, marketers (like me) find unexpected collaborations, and most importantly, people finding their tribe. संगच्छध्वं संवदध्वं – Let us move together, speak together. It’s not just a verse from the Rigveda — it’s how Jatin and the entire eChai community truly operate. We don’t just network, we grow together. Forever grateful to be a part of the eChai Effect.
Jaydip Parikh - Chief Everything Officer at Tej SolPro
Jaydip Parikh
Chief Everything Officer at Tej SolPro

eChai Partner Brands

eChai Ventures partners with select brands as their growth partner - working together to explore new ideas, open doors, and build momentum across the startup ecosystem.